By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist June is Pride Month. It’s a time to acknowledge the LGBTQ+community, and also celebratediversity, love, and respect. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in all states. We recognize same-sex couples’ marriages in all states, and some non-marital legal … Continue reading Social Security’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist  Question:  I prefer reading by audio book. Does Social Security have audio publications? Answer: Yes, we do. You can find them at www.ssa.gov/pubs. Some of the publications available include What You Can Do Online, Working While Disabled – How We Can Help, Apply Online for Social Security Benefits, and Your Social Security Card and Number. You can listen now at www.ssa.gov/pubs.  Question: I am receiving … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 37

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist  On Memorial Day, our nation honors military service members who have given their lives for our country.  Families, friends, and communities pause to remember the many great sacrifices of our military and ensure their legacy lives on in the freedoms we all enjoy.  We recognize these heroes who, in President Lincoln’s words, “gave the last full measure … Continue reading Social Security honors our military heroes

Retirement is a goal we work towards throughout our lifetime, and ultimately should be a goal we enjoy. Retirement does take a substantial amount of planning and it is easy to become overwhelmed with retirement planning.  Have I saved enough? When do I know when I can afford to stop working? What retirement mistakes can I avoid? These are the ongoing  and never ending questions … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Resources that can help you with your retirement planning

Via WPSU | By Valeria Quiñones | News Lab at Penn State Kathy Dodson, 67, has been working at the Poof-Slinky factory in Hollidaysburg for 30 years. She said she still hopes to retire soon, but she recently suffered a blood clot that sent her to the hospital and into debt. Dodson said she needs to quit working in order to move into low-income housing, … Continue reading Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Navigating Inflation: Some older workers in Blair County say retirement is out of reach

Via the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis By Owen Davis Most U.S. households got an unexpected financial boost during the pandemic, a result of both reduced consumer spending and robust stimulus programs. Yet as government spending programs have lapsed and high inflation has persisted, those financial cushions have deflated. Economists at JPMorgan Chase now expect aggregate “excess savings” to be depleted by mid-2023—a position … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Older Households’ Financial Fragility

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist  It’s never too early to start planning for retirement and our online tools can help.  Go to  www.ssa.gov/myaccount to access your personal my Social Security account to get anestimate of your retirement benefits based on your earnings record.  Once you have an account, you can use our Plan for Retirement tool to see how your benefits can change at different ages.  Don’t have a personal mySocial Security account?  You can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. You can also … Continue reading Ready to retire? Apply online with Social Security

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist  Social Security is here for you when you travel, whether you’re in the United States or in another country. Our online services page at http://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices provides you with a wide variety of self-service options you can use on your mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Through our online services, you can:  Find out if you qualify for benefits.  … Continue reading On the go? You can still use Social Security online when traveling.

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist The Social Security Administration and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) continued to raise public awareness about Social Security imposter scams during the fourth annual “Slam the Scam” Day held in March.  Social Security scams — where fraudsters pressure victims into making cash or gift card payments to fix alleged Social Security number problems or to avoid arrest – … Continue reading Slam the scam with Social Security

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Your personal my Social Security account is here for you at every stage of your career.  You don’t have to be retired or even close to retirement to take advantage of it.  With an account, you can conduct much of your Social Security business online.  For example, you can request a replacement Social Security card (in most … Continue reading Your personal my Social Security account is for every stage in your career